Want a Career in Fashion? Read This.

Get ready to work your ass off.

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So you're thinking about a career in fashion, are you? It's not all beautiful clothes and glamorous parties. If you want it, you better be prepared to work. Hard. This is an industry that takes a lot more than it gives and for every person working, there are 10 more gunning for his or her job. Still interested? Here's what you need to know.

Q: Where should I go to college?

A: A school like Parsons or FIT is great if you want to work in design, but it's not necessary if you want to work in other parts of the industry like business, editorial, or public relations. I went to Vassar; Cosmopolitan.com's HBIC, Amy Odell, went to NYU; and the Fashion Director of Cosmopolitan magazine, Aya Kanai, attended Oberlin.

There is no one school that will guarantee you entrée into the industry. In fact, attending a college without traditional ties to fashion can actually be an advantage, especially if it is well known and well respected. It's not that you have to attend an Ivy League school to succeed in this business, but right or wrong, employers will judge you based on where you went to school, especially when all they really know about you is what's printed on your resume.

That said, there are very successful people working in fashion who didn't even attend college. Where you went to school might help you get your foot in the door, but it's the quality of your work that will secure your place in the industry.

Q: What should I major in?

A: First and foremost, challenge yourself and study something you're passionate about. There are lots of programs geared specifically toward careers in fashion — communications, marketing, fashion merchandising, etc. — but they are no guarantee of career success. I studied art history in college and I have colleagues who studied everything from math to French to neuroscience. What's important is that you learn how to conduct research, think critically, work efficiently, solve problems, and write well.

The truth is, there's no class that can teach you everything a real job requires, and there is no major that will let you skip past the grunt work and hustle of the early years. Don't make the mistake of treating college like trade school. The best thing you can do is just enjoy your experience, push yourself to learn and grow while you're there, and be prepared to work your ass off when you leave — not to mention every summer and winter break while you're interning.

Don't let popular depictions of fashion internships on shows like "The Hills" fool you. You are not LC. You will actually have to work.

Q: Is it very cutthroat?

A: In a word? Yes. Of course it depends on who you are working with and where — Cosmopolitan.com is probably the nicest, most nurturing and supportive place I have ever worked — but there are way more people looking for jobs in fashion than there are openings, especially in editorial. If you want it you need to be prepared to fight for it. You don't have to be nasty, but a lot of other people probably will be, so you need to be tough.

Q: I love fashion, but I don't know if I want to design, style, or work in PR. How specific do I need to be starting out?

A: That's what internships are for! Do some research for yourself and figure out what different jobs entail. When you find something that sounds interesting look for a corresponding internship and apply.

Q: What are the best ways to network?

A: Once again, you have to intern. Meeting people through networking events and alumni networks is great and all, but interning helps you build a peer network and they are the only way to make a real impression on anyone at a higher level who might be in a position to offer you a job or recommend you for an opening somewhere else.

One thing to keep in mind, though: once you start an internship, even if you hate it, you've got to buckle down and rock it. The person you are reporting to has connections everywhere and they can be a big asset to you in the future if you wow them. Don't just be good. Be the best.

Q: How can I afford to dress the part?

A: You don't have to spend a lot of money, but you do need to look stylish and put together. Shop sales, utilize fast fashion stores like Zara and H&M, and above all dress with purpose. Don't just throw on jeans and a T-shirt. Create and outfit. Create a look. You can't expect anyone to value your opinion about clothes if you can't dress yourself.

A: Pay in fashion is dismally low overall, especially at the entry level. I lived on less than $20,000 per year before becoming an on-staff fashion editor at a magazine and even then the early days were rough. This is not the industry for people looking to make big bucks fast and often jobs with higher entry-level salaries come with less prestige, which can be damaging to your long-term prospects.

The sad truth is, many people working in fashion rely on financial support from their families, especially in the early years. If you plan to go it alone, which is doable — I did it — you will probably be living on around $30,000 per year and you are going to have to hustle.

Early in my career I slept on an air mattress on the floor of an apartment so deep in Brooklyn that it took me an hour just to get to my job in Manhattan. I had three roommates; they were all unemployed and two of them were drug addicts. That's just how it goes sometimes. You have to be willing to sacrifice.

A: It's a good idea, especially if you want to work in editorial. Offering potential employers concrete examples of your work and personal style can make a huge difference in whether or not you get the job. Think of it as an extension of your resume. And who knows, if it's really great it could end up taking off and then you won't need another job. My former intern Carina Hsieh is still in college and her blog, The Fashion Student, is so successful that she goes on press trips with colleagues of mine who have been working for corporate magazines and websites for years.

1. Dress stylishly. This is fashion, not insurance sales, so no pant suits. You will absolutely be judged on how you look. Accept it and rise to the occasion. If you're unsure about what to wear, look to the company you are interviewing with and copy a look from them. It doesn't have to be exact, but it will help give the impression that you understand and are (or at least want to be) part of the world they are working in.

2. Know about the company and the product they produce. If it's a magazine, make sure you've read the last three issues and can talk intelligently about what you liked. If it's a website, go deep into their history to find your favorite stories, writers, and themes. If you're meeting with a designer, familiarize yourself with their past collections on style.com and find specific items of theirs at retail that you can talk about wanting for yourself (even if you can't afford them).

3. Don't be wishy washy. There is nothing more annoying than interviewing someone who has no idea why they are there or what they want to get out of the job. You need to be flexible, but if someone asks you where you see yourself in 10 years or why you want to work for them, say something specific. None of this "I just really love fashion" stuff. No one wants to hear that.

Q: Can I have a career in fashion if I don't live in New York?

A: If you only speak English and you don't have dual nationality then yes, New York is really your only option. LA doesn't count. That's just celebrity. Even an LA-based stylist like Rachel Zoe still does most of her editorial work here in NYC. Although there are jobs in other parts of the country that touch on fashion, even high-end fashion — Neiman Marcus in Dallas, Nordstrom in Seattle — if you want to be in it, like really in it, you have to be in New York. Period.

So drop what you're doing, buy a plane ticket, and get your ass out here. I came to the city with $500 and a whole hell of a lot of drive. I starved, stole, and suffered and now I'm fabulous. You can do it too. Be bold, be brave, and get a move on. Trust me, the longer you wait the harder it will become.

Also, dumpster diving. I don't recommend it, but it's a thing and I would totally hire the girl jumping into that dumpster over the one just standing there. I don't even need to see her resume. Hired!